PREP SPORTS ROUND UP: Area wrestlers heading to regionals.

Belding, Ionia, Lakewood, Portland have athletes place at district tournaments

From Staff Reports

The Belding wrestling team will be quite busy this week.

Just days after capturing the team district title at Maple Valley High School, the Redskins had seven of the 13 wrestlers they entered place on Saturday at Lakewood High School in the District 21-3 individual tournament.

Dakota Foster finished third at 140 pounds to punch his ticket to the regional round of the state tourney.

"We wrestled well today," Belding coach Travis Meyer said. "Taking half the team to the next level is exciting.

"We had a few other opportunities, but the Blood Round took three more guys from us."

In the wrestling community, the "Blood Round" is the second round of consolation matches. In district competition, winning these matches means placing in the top four, and advancing to regionals.

The host Vikings had four athletes place in their respective weight classes.

Jordan Bennett earned the district title at 145 pounds, while Lars Pyrzinski took third at 285 pounds. Jack Tromp finished fourth at 215 and Austin Keitzman took fourth at 125.

Portland's lone regional qualifier was William Young, who finished first at 125 pounds.

The regional qualifiers will compete in Williamston on Saturday.

The Belding team will be in action on Wednesday back inside the Lakewood's gym to compete in the team regional. The Redskins will take on Chesaning in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to the championship match against either Central Montcalm or Leslie.

District 12-2

HASTINGS — The Ionia wrestling team had two of the six wrestlers that competed on Saturday advance to regionals by placing at the individual district tournament in Hastings.

Jordan Richardson finished second at 103 pounds with his only loss coming in the finals against Lowell's Lucas Hall.

Austin Winter finished third at 171. After falling to eventual champion, Kanon Dean of Lowell, Winter went 2-0 in the consolation bracket to earn his spot at regionals.

Richardson and Winter will travel to Fruitport on Saturday to compete for a spot in the state finals.

Bowling

Ionia 15, Portland 15 (boys)Ionia 21, Portland 9 (girls)

PORTLAND — The Bulldog teams traveled to Meadow Bowl Lanes Monday afternoon to take on the Raiders.

In the boys match, Portland jumped out to a 15-5 lead after the regular round of games, but Ionia rebounded by taking all 10 points of the Baker round to force a 15-15 tie.

Portland won the regular games 1,030-883 and 1,075-1,875 to take 10 points, then earned points for the highest team series (2,105-1,875).

In the Bakers, the Bulldogs rallied, winning both games by scores of 208-189 and 207-193 to make it a 15-13 match, then earned the final two points of the match by earning the higher Baker series (415-282) to pull even.

Tyler Evans led Ionia with games of 242 and 202 for a team-high 444 series.

Tyler Jones chipped in with a 237 game.

Marcus Zinn led Portland with games of 258 and 226 to earn a match-high 457 series. Adam Simon threw games of 234 and 223 for a 457 series.

Patrick Chaffee threw a 233 game and Trenton Schaibly bowled a 225.

In the girls mach, Ionia won both regular games (861-798 and 836-810), finishing with the higher series (1,697-1,608) to take a 13-5 lead, then clinched the match in the first Baker game.

The Lady Dawgs won the opening Baker 167-149. Portland rebounded in the second by earning a 182-170 win, but Ionia took the final two match points by earning the higher series total (337-331).

Kristin Nash led Ionia with games of 193 and 183 for a 376 series. Kendra Beutler bowled games of 193 and 180 for a 373 series and Brianna Thurlby bowled a 183 and 173 for a 356 series.

Lily Whitford led the Raiders with games of 184 and 173 for a 357 series.

Ionia will travel to Corunna on Thursday for its final dual match of the season.

Portland will play host to Stockbridge on Friday afternoon.

Girls Basketball

Saranac 50, Dansville 30

SARANAC — The Redskins scored 30 points in the second half Monday night as they defeated the Aggies in Central Michigan Athletic Conference Action.

The game, originally scheduled for Thursday night, was rescheduled due to inclement weather.

Sadie Guernsey led the Redskins with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Kaylee Hardy finished with nine points and eight assists.

Kendall Seiler scored eight points and nabbed five steals, while Betsy Simpson chipped in with six points.

Saranac (6-11, 4-10 in CMAC) will travel across the county on Thursday to take on Pewamo-Westphalia.